In November, three members of the New Beginnings Christian Fellowship (Big Sandy, TX) shared their bounty of sweet potatoes with the Hiway 80 Rescue Mission in Longview, TX. Reba Bond, Nadine VanLaecken, and Sarah Strub donated 600 pounds of sweet potatoes.

Nov. 21-23, Friday through Sunday, 23 Iglesia de Dios Mundial pastors and ministry leaders from various areas of Mexico gathered together for a time of spiritual refreshment and rejuvenation in the mountains of Mazamitla near Guadalajara, Mexico. It was a mountain-top experience for everyone present.

The theme scripture was Ephesians 1:17: "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better."

Each day was a time of worship in the presence of our triune God. Friday’s focus was on the love of God the Father, Saturday’s emphasis was on Jesus’ invitation to intimate relationship, and Sunday stressed the working of the Spirit through the transforming love of God.

The structure of the retreat involved praise and worship in song and spiritual formational exercises with meditative and group prayer and Communion. Plenty of time was allowed for sharing the love of Christ in Christian fellowship.

Hector Barrero, our Latin American Mission Developer, commented that this experience was very much an encounter with God and not just the receiving of information. Alfredo Mercado, pastor of the Guadalajara, Mexico congregation and member of the national leadership team, felt that this type of retreat is very much needed as a "spiritual maintenance" exercise for pastors, especially those with a need to connect spiritually and emotionally with others and who may be dealing with issues of pastoral burnout.

Mary Mercado is excited about taking the principles learned about meditative prayer and Bible study to a women’s prayer group in the Guadalajara congregation.

Comments from participants also included appreciation for insights into understanding our relationship with the Trinity as well as how to follow Jesus’ example of ministry (John 5:19) to avoid overwork.

The seminar was bathed in prayer (each pastor or ministry leader was asked to choose three to five individuals willing to commit to praying for them during the three-day period), and two women were delighted to report that they had been set free during the retreat from some long-standing burdens and struggles. Throughout the weekend there was a sense among those present of a deep desire to know and experience God in their lives—all of which bodes well for the future of our denominational fellowship in Mexico.

—Larry Hinkle_